Please explain 2nd Kings 6:8-23.
As we break these verses down, we will see that this encouraging account in the life of Elisha demonstrates God’s 1) Omniscience; 2) Omnipotence; and 3) Grace.
Verses 8-12: “Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, ‘My camp will be in such and such a place.’ And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, ‘Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.’ Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to the, ‘Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?’ And one of his servants said, ‘None, my lord, O king; but ELISHA, the prophet who is in Israel, TELLS THE KING OF ISRAEL THE WORDS THAT YOU SPEAK IN YOUR BEDROOM” (NKJV).
Here we see God’s amazing OMNISCIENCE! The king of Syria made plans to make camp in various places in Israel and at the same time Elisha warned the king of Israel of these encampments. The king of Syria naturally thought that there was a SPY in his ranks who was warning the king of Israel but he later learned it was Elisha the prophet, who had heard him telling his plans to his men in his bedroom. How did Elisha hear him? Ah, it was Elisha’s ALL-KNOWING GOD who heard him and then He told Elisha! King David wrote of God’s marvelous OMNISCIENCE in Psalm 139:1-4, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For THERE IS NOT A WORD ON MY TONGUE, BUT BEHOLD, O LORD, YOU KNOW IT ALTOGETHER.”
Verses 13-18: “So he said, ‘Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.’ And it was told him, saying, ‘Surely he is in Dothan.’ Therefore he sent horses and chariots and great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for THOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE ALL AROUND ELISHA. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.’ And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.”
He we see God’s OMNIPOTENCE displayed, for though the enemy surrounded Dothan with an army of horses and chariots, they were no match for the army of “horses and chariots of fire” that surrounded them! Their “puny power” was as nothing compared to “God’s power,” for He can send innumerable angels to defend His people. King David also wrote of this in Psalm 34:7 & 68:17, “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them…The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands.” Before we go on, we also see God’s POWER displayed striking the army of Syria with blindness (in answer to the “prayer of faith”).
Verses 19-23: “Now Elisha said to them, ‘This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.’ But he led them to Samaria. So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, ‘LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.’ And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! Now then the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, ‘My father shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?’ But he answered, ‘You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.’ Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.”
What a marvelous display of God’s amazing GRACE! In RIGHTEOUSNESS He had displayed his POWER against the enemy by “striking them with blindness,” but now in GRACE he “opens their eyes, leads them to Samaria, commands the king of Israel to feed them, and sends them home safely.” God’s POWER and GRACE had such an effect on them that they “came no more into the land of Israel.” This account reminds me of Luke 9:51-56 where the disciples wanted to send “fire down from heaven to consume their enemies” (verse 54) yet Jesus said to them, “You do not know what manner of spirit are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (verses 55-56). God’s desire is to show His GRACE to men, not to destroy them. If you are still a stranger to God’s grace, I would encourage you to read the parable in Luke 14:15-24 where God is inviting sinners to His GOSPEL FEAST that you may be blessed with His precious salvation. If you will act on this invitation and COME TO CHRIST (see Matthew 11:28 and John 6:35) the “grace of God” will change you from an “enemy of God” to a “child of God” (see Romans 5:6-10; Colossians 1:19-22 and John 1:12). (453.1) (DO)